This blog will be a journey through my quiltwork and some artwork and my life...sometimes the muse' is not active but I'll try I was a gourd artist until my hands gave out, now I thoroughly enjoy playing with fabric and paint. Enjoy most everything that nature has to offer.
Family and friends are very important. I live in the beautiful Peace River Area of northeastern BC.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

I've missed the last two FFFC so managed to get this one done in time. Our challenge was to do an animal and create depth by reverse applique etc. I cropped a picture of a zebra and used it as a reference for drawing. Laid down a piece of hand painted fabric, with black overtop. Drew the design on the paper back of the stabalizer and stitched. Then came the hard part, cutting it all out. I used a blanket stitch with blue thread on the black lines. It measures 21x24" I call it 'African Sunset'.
A fun piece.
Thanks for having a look.

Heavy snow fall warning in the Peace, and it has been coming down pretty steady all day...oh well It is just about Haloween.

Monday, October 26, 2009

After nearly a month I finally got into the studio on the weekend. My sister, son and I took a trip down to North Central WA, we did the shop hop and had such a great time. Wow, the fabrics south of the border are sure less expensive than up here.
Then we stopped at Keremeos and loaded up on veggies and fruit, so then when I got home it was canning time.
Anyway, here is what I did on the weekend.
I painted paper sided stabalizer and ironed it to the fabric, added some shapes and gold foil etc., I like it. But I like the back side the best :) I can see making more of these.

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

I deesigned a tote bag pattern and have been having some fun with it. The bag is quite large, and has 3" deep sides, It also has binding all around, which I like. It is quilted on the back and the front, which makes it quite sturdy.

Monday, September 21, 2009

I taught my first fabric class on the 12 and 13th. I was quite nervous going into it, but it was a huge success. Lots of great feedback on the evaluation forms.
Here are a few pictures from the class, and you can see more at this link.http://www.flickr.com/photos/gizmo100/
I love that the participants took my pattern and made it their own. That's what teaching is all about.
I'm planning another one for the end of October.

Friday, August 28, 2009

This is my first attempt at rust dyeing. What a fun process. I had a box of rusted 'junk' that I brought from the farm. I remember my son saying,what do you want that for???? I didn't really know, sentimental value??/ Anyway it is coming in handy.The first piece was a saw blade, and old stove damper 'thingy' and some large washers.The second piece was wrapped around an old lantern, I did the wrapping twice. I have three more bags on the go :)Now what to do with them.

Thursday, August 27, 2009

I have finished the swans that I showed the other day.I used WonderFil Rayon threads for the stitching, a bit of blue metallic under the birds. I used a variegated WonderFil Accent thread for the trees in the foreground.For a first attempt I'm quite pleased with the results.I look forward to your comments.

I sun printed a lot of my hand painted fabric last summer. My grandaughter and I collected all sorts of foliage at a small lake near our community. Thus the title. I have had the idea for a quilt swimming in my head for nearly a year!It is not quilted, just have the top finished. I found it exciting to put together this piece. Unfortuanately the sun printing on the light areas don't show up in the picture, but they are there.I'm trying hard to cross of things from my ever lengthening list of things to do or try :)We are having a gorgeous crisp morning in the South Peace, it didn't freeze last night but was close.The tomatoes are still on the vine, ripening, so must start covering them at night.Have a great day.

Sunday, August 23, 2009

I had a fun time today playing with fabric paints. I used Pebeo Setacolor for this. I hope to sandwich it tomorrow and get some stitching added. Such fun. Does anyone know of a good resist for fabric? I guess the swans are ok with the bit of blue, I used two layers of freezer paper for the template.Enjoy.

Thursday, August 13, 2009

Finally some new work, or a piece finished! I seem to be doing a lot of 'starts' lately.This piece was done for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge group, the challenge was radial symmetry.I've wanted to do a woman and child for awhile, so this was a great opportunity. All the hungry children in the world, oh my it bothers me.Seeds of Change developed. With a helping hand from others new hope for those suffering.The seeds; water, seeds and children.I look forward to your critique.

Tuesday, July 21, 2009

I made some huge changes to this piece. NO borders. Thanks to my friends on the Quilt Art List for your critique, and thanks to the artist with the mostest, Pamela!I look forward to your comments on the changes I made. The bottom, reflection section, has a layer of blue tulle over the quilted/thread painted flowers. I love the gradation of this grey fabric, purchased it from my friend Anita at Beatton Way. It makes a nice background for the sunflowers. I have also included a closeup of the stitching, this piece was done with WonderFil rayon.Now, must move on to something other than sunflowers :0Enjoy

Tuesday, July 14, 2009

I'm working on a new piece, and would really like some feedback.It's about the light gold borders...I rather like them but a friend has suggested maybe they are too 'choppy' and I should just frame the picture with the gold border?I think it gives the piece a more 'artistic' flare the way the borders are, If I just frame the picture it is more 'quilterly'...am I making any sense?What do you think, I value everyone's opinion. And look forward to your comments.

Friday, July 3, 2009

I have just finished a piece for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge. It was a lot of fun. I used the triadic color scheme of red, yellow, and blue and various hues of those colors. I hope achieved texture, the quilting doesn't show up in the picture, but her skirt looks quite puffy. The cut outs in her dress add texture, I feel and she has a string of beads.I don't have a title, her dress does look like bird feathers and I have swans in the window ( put on with Shiva). I am open to any suggestions for a title.Enjoy.

Saturday, June 27, 2009

The Mile 0 Quilt Guild has been taking part in aRt Shift for the month of June. We have a show hung at the local library, called the 'Evolution of Quilting', the show is hung from the oldest quilts to new modern quilt art. Fantastic, and lot's of folks have viewed it. We have also held a demo each Saturday. Today was the last Saturday, we hand tyed a chemo quilt. I made the quilt and several members helped tye it. Our guests were the Potluck in the Basement Singers, they did a great job of entertaining and also joined in to help tie the quilt :) The library staff provided, beverages and goodies. It was a fun day, and great way to wrap up our month long show.Here are some pictures from today. The girls in 'white' blouses are from the singing group. The picture of four us tying are from the left, Ginny, Roz, Lynn and myself, with Counsillor Marilyn Belak looking on.

The local art group currently has a show hanging at our local Gallery. Our Gallery is an old grain elevator, it is awesome. You can see pictures here: http://www.pris.bc.ca/artgallery/I went up today and took some pictures, I have several of my Women series and Four of my Still Lifes hanging in the show. Two of my Still Lifes have sold and are gone, and another one has a sold sticker on it. I am thrilled.Here are some pictures. The one picture gives you an idea of the different levels as you progress to the top of the gallery.Enjoy!

Saturday, June 20, 2009

I decided to try my poppy pattern in tone on tone fabric, rather than the hand dyed. I'm quite pleased with the result. I also used WonderFil thread for the thread painting, really do like their threads.Just finished this yesterday. I've included a close up, love that copper thread!We finally had a bit of rain, but not near enough...we'll take what we can get though.

Sunday, June 14, 2009

I took a class with Sandra Fisher from Sask last Sunday. What a knowledgeable woman, I learned so much about thread and my machine! I've always said I'm a 'lifelong' learner and so the journey carries on. Anyway, we used Sandra's design and WonderFil thread, I love that thread! I changed the colors and used my own combo and here is what I did.I've now started a poppy (my own design) using the wonderfil thread and am having fun.Thanks to my quilting friend Pat for bring Sandra to our small town.I've enclosed some pictures of the class, our guild rents this room by the month, so 'it's ours' and we love it.

Wednesday, May 6, 2009

I just had to show you this picture.This was taken at our quilt show April 26th.My sister, Judi playing the guitar, has a group called The Potluck in The basement singers. They entertained at our quilt show, at one point the sisters were asked to join the, to the right of Judi are my sisters; Lil, Brenda and me. Brenda and I are members of the guild. The singing quilting sisters maybe :)

Monday, May 4, 2009

"Washday Blues" is finished. You will note a bit of happiness for this hard working gal in the water bucket.

Continuing with my 'woman' theme, and thinking about my Mom and grandmother and the hard work those pioneer women did, brought this one to life. My grandmother had a scrub board and washing machine like this one. I've used the analogous hues of red to yellow orange, and the compliment of blue. The background is woven fabric. Lot's of hand stitching and a bit of machine stitching to finish it off.This piece has been sold.

Wednesday, April 29, 2009

Here is a picture of my 2nd place win, it is a Pam Bono design called, Daisies in The Cabin, probably the most intensive pieceing I have attemped in my short quilting career.The other picture is of my younger sister, Brenda. Pineapple blocks, with the most gorgeous wool applique, so textural that folks just had to reach out and touch it!

Whew, our annual quilt show is over. It is such a tremendous amount of work but so worth the effort.The place was like a beehive, I believe the best show we've had, the walls of the auditorium were awash with color, the glorious melodies of the Potluck in The Basement Singers floated throughout the building while folks enjoyed Strawberry Shortcake.Viewers Choice awards were presented, I tied for first place with Barb O'Brien.My Daisies in the cabin took second place, and my younger sister tied for third place with Josie.The scissor sharpener fellow was very busy! A first time for him to attend.Here is a picture of the my first place entry, TITLE: “Tancho, Keeper of Fidelity”QUILT MEMBER: Rhoda ForbesSIZE: Wall hangingPATTERN: Designed by Rhoda ForbesMETHOD: Raw edge appliqué, thread painting, machine quilted. The appliqué pieces are all made from my hand painted fabric. The background is 100% cotton commercial fabric.STORY: Tancho is the Japanese name for the Red Crested Crane. I have always thought they are the most graceful birds. A pair of cranes mate for life, only when one mate dies do they seek out another. Thus the title ‘keeper of fidelity’. The chrysanthemums, apple blossoms and bamboo seem a fitting setting for this crane. It is all alone, perhaps it’s mate has died and it is seeking a new mate , or perhaps it is reflecting on the wonder of the passing of it’s lifelong mate?

Sunday, April 5, 2009

This is a piece that I just finished for the Fast Friday Fabric Challenge. My series is women.Our challenge was to show planes, shadows using muted shades and yest use saturated colors. I think I met the challenge. The inspiration for the buildings was from a painting by Edouard Toudoze. I played with the figure a lot before she found her spot in the composition. I did know pre sketching but just cut with scissors, pamela allan style.I used oil pastels for the bricks, shading etc. They worked very well, I let them cure overnight and than heat set them. I am trying to define my style and I think for this one I would call it embroidered applique. A lot of embroidery stitches were used and no machine work.I look forward to your comments.

Tuesday, March 17, 2009

This one has been 'on the burner' for awhile :) I finally got it off the sketch pad and done in fabric.I'm open to suggestions for a title for it, if you have any suggestions. Can you spot the three dragonflies?I did some 'sashiko' type stitching on it, and quite like the effect. The fish are all done with my hand painted fabrics.I did two rows of flying geese, to portray the fish movement, one row got slightly covered.I look forward to comments.This wall hanging was sold at the show April 26th.

Saturday, March 14, 2009

I have finished another one of the pieces done in Pamela Allan's class. This was our 'independant study'.I had a lot of fun with it, the raven is a true northern raven in the winter. He is all fluffed up to ward off the cold.I have one more to stitch in this series, all with Ravens.I will tell you the story of the raven, from our point of view.My husband passed away 4 years ago, since then we have relocated. My youngest grandaughter and her grampa were hooked at the hip. When walking to my house after school, there is a raven that waits on the snowbank, and hops along all the way home with her, she's sure it's grampa. That's why I had to do a series with ravens, and why not still life!

Thursday, March 5, 2009

I have finished another piece that I started in the Still Life class.Got a bit wild with the binding, it is the same fabric as the flower centers and I quite like it.The course with Pamela was so informative, and I am enjoying the end results of my work.

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

I just finished my FFFC. The challenge was to use a split complimentary pallette and include an S curve.My split complimentary was yellow/green and red and blue/violet. I tried to use different hues of this pallette. The S curve can be seen in the path and in the woman's form.This was another great challenge. I did a lot handstitching, a carry over from the Pamela Allan class.I reversed the order of the top three background fabrics, and realized it after I had much of it stitched in place...sooo I added a moon and some highlight of the moon shining on objects.Hope you enjoy it.

Monday, February 23, 2009

I am still working on the projects in Pamela Allan's online Class. This still life is from Lesson 2. It is now completed, with all the stitching in place. Many of the fabrics in this piece are recycled clothing. The raven is there, you might have to enlarge the picture to see it well :)Cold and stormy up north today. I yearn for spring, and color. Have you ever noticed the varying colors of green in the spring, it's a feast for the eyes.I look forward to your feedback.Have a great day.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

I am taking an online class with Pamela Allan. This is the first finshed piece. The class is called Still Life is Boring Not. And what fun we are all having.I've got several more in the works, lot's of hand stitching to do. I took a lot of pictures of ravens, and have decided to do a series, so you will note ravens in many of the upcoming pieces.It's still cold up north. I am having carpal tunnel surgery on the left hand soon, so am very busy trying to catch up on things.Enjoy.

Thursday, February 5, 2009

This is my piece for the Trend Tex Challenge. The Show is being held in Saskatchewan this year and the theme is Roots.My grandparents and their children left Sask in the '30s for the Peace River area of BC. My grandmother, known to us as Nan, always yearned for her home in Sask and her family. As a child I heard a lot of stories about the area, I also learned to embroidery while this special woman told me those stories. When this challenge arrived I immediately thought of Nan, so here she is heading home with cherished memories. I have included the Sask flower, the lily, the wheat, grain elevators, house on the hill with few trees in view, a bleak landscape. I have worked for two weeks on this piece, lot's of hand stitching to represent her era and modern machine stitches to represent part of my era. I had a difficult time working with the fabrics provided so threw in a few duller fabrics. I am pleased with it and know she would be proud.Now I can get it off in the mail and catch up with other WIP.

Thursday, January 29, 2009

This is the latest for the FFFC challenge. My theme is woman, the challenge was to use analogous colors and movement. I hope I have achieved that.In the Chinese culture, phases of a woman's life are celebrated. Menopause is referred to as 'second spring', so my choice for this challenge. I chose the analogous colors of blue/blue violet. As I was working on the piece it was mentioned on the list that we could go further than just two colors beside each other, therefore I added some hues from violet,red/violet and red. The chinese lettering on the right is 'second spring'.I choose the cool colors to suggest a calming period in a woman's life, the years of child bearing are over, chaos turns to calm. Less clutter, note her room is free of clutter, just a pot of lovely flowers :) And she now has time to tend to the flower box out the windor. Perhaps we need to give in to this time of our lives and enjoy it more. You can tell her age by the sagging breasts :0The right side wall is a deep purple, however in the picture it almost looks black. I tried adjusting the color and got orange for the pinks...so finally left it as it is.I definitely did this piece in Pamela Allen's style, with lot's of hand stitching.I look forward to your critique.Thanks for the challenge Ren, it was fun for me.

Wednesday, January 14, 2009

Here is another piece done with my hand dyed fabrics. The background is a purchased piece of cotton, such gorgeous colors, it really reminds me of midnight. I did some embroidery to the poppy center which added more life to the, I believe.This is raw edge applique with lot's of thread painting. Such fun.

Friday, January 2, 2009

Our challenge this month was to portray an emotion and to uses zingers.My theme was 'Women at Work', I Believe I'll change that to 'Women'.

Blissfull Betty is in heaven, licking the the cupcakes delectable icing from her finger. Amongst the chaos and pandemonium she is blissfully happy, enjoying her scrumptious treat.This was a lot of fun to make, and I have two emotions going on. At first Betty was going to be frustrated by knitting, then I decided I just needed to add some happiness to the chaos I had created. The pink flower and ear rings are the zingers in this piece.Lot's of bling on the flower, ear rings and her ring.

-42 in my world today, and I have to say it has been tooo cold for tooo long, it can warm up anytime. One thing about it, it makes more time for creating :)

About Me

I guess I've been somewhat of an artist all my life, since 1999 my canvas has been Mother Nature's Gift the gourd. Five years ago I started quilting, and now I'm moving out of the box to 'art quilts' I've joined two groups, Fast Friday Fabric Challenge and the Fiber & Stitch Group, they are both offering me the challenges that I need to think 'out of the box'. I also like to make traditional quilts, you might say I've developed a real fondness for fabric.